Sedition raps vs Leni up for resolution – DOJ

MANILA, Philippines – The sedition complaint filed by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) against Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 other opposition figures has been submitted for resolution, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said yesterday. 

According to the DOJ prosecutors, only former Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano and Jonnell Sangalang failed to submit their counter-affidavits.

Sangalang is reportedly a staff of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

The other respondents -- detained Sen. Leila de Lima,  human rights lawyer Chel Diokno and Danilo Songco -- submitted their counter-affidavits earlier this week.

During the Sept. 6 preliminary hearing, DOJ Assistant State Prosecutor Gino Paolo Santiago ordered the respondents to submit their answers to the complaint or their rights would be waived.

The DOJ panel of prosecutors chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas was given 60 days to complete the probe.

The PNP-CIDG filed charges of sedition, cyberlibel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal as well as obstruction of justice against Robredo and the other respondents based on the testimony of Peter Joemel Advincula.

Advincula, who claimed to be “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narco list” videos, alleged that the opposition asked him to implicate President Duterte’s family in the illegal drug trade.